Parliament Question: Scheme for Promotion of Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1159 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 SCHEME FOR PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM 1159. SHRI ANURAG SHARMA: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has recently introduced or plans to introduce a new scheme aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism across the country; (b) if so, the key objectives, components and target regions of this new scheme, particularly developing lesser-known destinations, cultural circuit and eco-tourism projects; (c) the details of the measures being undertaken to improve infrastructure, digital connectivity, and safety standards at tourist sites under this initiative; (d) the manner in which the scheme proposes to provide skill development and livelihood opportunities for local communities, artisans and youth in tourism-dependent regions; (e) the details of the total budgetary allocation for the scheme during the current financial year; and (f) the details of coordination between the Central and State Governments for effective implementation of the scheme? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (f): Development and promotion of tourism destinations and products is primarily undertaken by the concerned State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA). However, the Ministry of Tourism through its various schemes provides financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations for development of tourism infrastructure and experiences inthe country, on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned SGs/UTAs under the relevant schemes, in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government instructions, availability of funds etc. The Ministry of Tourism revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations with focus on enhancing tourism amenities and experiences in the country including lesser-known destinations, cultural and eco-tourism regions. The scheme guidelines also envisage development of both hard and soft interventions including tourism products, capacity building, digitization etc. In addition, the Ministry with the objective to undertake holistic development of the destinations to enhance tourist experience has sanctioned 36 projects in the country under ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)’ – a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan scheme. The projects sanctioned under the above-mentioned initiatives provide direct as well as indirect employment opportunities in the region. The projects under SD2.0 and CBDD are implemented by the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations, whereas the Ministry of Tourism regularly reviews the progress of the sanctioned projects. The institutional framework the scheme also includes provisions for co-ordination between the SGs/UTAs and the Ministry of Tourism for effective implementation of the scheme. The total Budget Estimates (BE) for Swadesh Darshan scheme for the year 2025-26 is ₹1900 Crore. In addition, Ministry of Tourism has put in place the Scheme of "Capacity Building for Service Providers" (CBSP) to provide education, training and certification to the tourism service providers with the objective to make them employable which includes local communities, artisans and youth. The total budgetary allocation for the scheme during the current financial year is ₹25 Crore. Implementing agencies for conducting the training include State Hotel Management Institutes. The details of the projects sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and CBDD including those in less known regions, cultural and eco-tourism areas are annexed. ******ANNEXURE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1159 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 REGARDING SCHEME FOR PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM RAISED BY SHRI ANURAG SHARMA. 1. Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme: S. State Year of Destination Name of the Sanctioned No. Sanction Experience Cost (₹ Crore) 1. Andhra 2024-25 Bapatala Development of 97.52 Pradesh Suryalanka Beach Experience 2. Andhra 2023-24 Araku- Borra Cave 29.88 Pradesh Lambasingi Experience at Araku 3. Arunachal 2023-24 Nacho Unlock Nacho 14.02 Pradesh Expedition 4. Arunachal 2023-24 Mechuka Mechuka 18.48 Pradesh Cultural Haat 5. Arunachal 2023-24 Mechuka Mechuka 12.75 Pradesh Adventure Park 6. Assam 2023-24 Kokrajhar Kokrajhar 26.67 Wetland Experience 7. Assam 2023-24 Jorhat Reimagining 23.88 Cinnamara Tea Estate 8. Bihar 2024-25 Bodh Gaya Development of 165.44 the Buddhist Meditation &Experience Centre, Bodh Gaya9. Chhattisgarh 2024-25 Kawardha Bhoramdeo 145.99 Corridor Development, Kabirdham District 10. D adra Nagar 2024-25 Daman Daman 147.13 & Haveli and Convention Daman &Diu Centre 11. G oa 2023-24 Porvorim Porvorim Creek 24.07 Experience 12. G oa 2023-24 Colva Colva Beach 19.89 Experience 13. H aryana 2024-25 Panchkula Development of 26.68 Adventure Tourism Hub at Tikkar Taal and Adventure Park 14. H aryana 2024-25 Panchkula Rejuvenation of 65.82 Yadavindra Garden 15. H imachal 2024-25 Maa Development of 56.26 Pradesh Chintpurni Maa Chintpurni Temple Devi Temple, (District - Una Una) 16. K arnataka 2023-24 Hampi Setting up of 25.64 ‘Traveller nooks’ 17. K arnataka 2023-24 Mysuru Tonga ride 2.72 Heritage experience zone 18. K arnataka 2023-24 Mysuru Ecological 18.48 Experience Zone 19. K erala 2023-24 Kumarakom Kumarakom Bird 13.81 Sanctuary Experience 20. K erala 2024-25 Alappuzha Alappuzha: A 93.18 Global Water Wonderland21. K erala 2024-25 Malampuzha Enhancement of 75.87 Tourist Experience at Malampuzha Garden and Leisure Park 22. L adakh 2023-24 Leh Julley Leh 23.17 Biodiversity Park 23. L adakh 2023-24 Kargil Exploring LOC 11.91 and Hundarman village Experience 24. L akshadweep 2024-25 Bangaram Enhancement of 81.18 Tourist Experience at Bangaram 25. M adhya 2023-24 Gwalior Phoolbagh 16.74 Pradesh Experience Zone 26. M adhya 2023-24 Chitrakoot Spiritual 27.21 Pradesh experience at Chitrakoot 27. M adhya 2024-25 Pitambara Development of 44.24 Pradesh Peeth, Datia Pitambara Peeth Datia 28. M aharashtra 2023-24 Pune Shivsrushti 76.22 Historical Theme Park- Phase 3 29. M eghalaya 2023-24 Sohra Waterfall Trails 27.60 Experience 30. M eghalaya 2023-24 Sohra Meghalayan Age 32.45 Cave Experience 31. M izoram 2024-25 Champhai Eco Resort 38.85 Experience at Keilungliah, Zote, Ngur&Mualbuhv um, Champhai32. M izoram 2024-25 Champhai Heritage and 33.87 Cultural Centre, Champhai 33. M izoram 2025-26 Thingsulthli Construction of 99.71 ah Conference Centre 34. N agaland 2023-24 Chumoukedi Eco-Tourism Exp 7.87 ma at Chumoukedima viewpoint 35. N agaland 2023-24 Chumuouke Tribal Cultural 21.56 dima Experience at Midway Retreat 36. N agaland 2024-25 Chumuouke Adventure 32.54 dima Tourism Experience at Jacob Village, Chumoukediema 37. P uducherry 2023-24 Karaikal Karaikal beach 20.29 and waterfront experience 38. P unjab 2023-24 Kapurthala Eco Tourism 20.06 experience at Kanjli wetland 39. P unjab 2023-24 Amritsar Border Tourism 25.91 Experience at Attari 40. R ajasthan 2023-24 Bundi Spiritual 21.65 Experience, Keshavraipatan 41. R ajasthan 2024-25 Sikar Development 87.87 works at Shri Khatu Shyam Ji Temple (Sikar) 42. R ajasthan 2024-25 Karni Mata Development 22.58 temple, Works at Shri Bikaner dist. Karni mata mandir, Bikaner43. R ajasthan 2024-25 Malaseri Development of 48.73 Dungari MalaseriDungri, (District - Bhilwara District Bhilwara) 44. S ikkim 2023-24 Gyalshing Eco-Wellness 15.41 Experience at Yuksom Cluster 45. S ikkim 2023-24 Gangtok Gangtok Cultural 22.60 Village 46. T amil Nadu 2023-24 Mamallapur Immersive 30.02 am experience at Shore Temple 47. T elangana 2023-24 Bhongir Bhongir Fort 56.82 Experiential Zone 48. T elangana 2023-24 Ananathagiri Eco tourism zone 38.01 at Ananathgiri forest 49. T ripura 2024-25 Agartala Tripura Heritage 48.95 Village & Sangeet Experience at Agartala (Phase- 1 &2) 50. U ttar Pradesh 2023-24 Prayagraj Azad Park and 14.52 Dekho Prayagraj Trail Exp 51. U ttar Pradesh 2023-24 Naimisarany Vedic- wellness 17.80 a Experience 52. U ttarakhand 2023-24 Pithoragarh Rural Tourism 17.86 Cluster Experience at Gunji 53. U ttarakhand 2023-24 Champawat Tea Garden 19.89 Experience TOTAL AMOUNT 2208.27(ii) Details of Project sanctioned under Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan scheme: S. State/UT Year of Name of the Project Category Sanctioned No. Sanction Cost (₹ Crore) Andhra Ahobilam-A spiritual Spiritual 1 2024-25 25.00 Pradesh Odyssey Tourism Enriching Buddhist Culture & Andhra Heritage and Cultural Heritage 2 2024-25 25.00 Pradesh Experiences at Nagarjuna Sagar Ecotourism Bichom Dam Arunachal and Amrit 3 2024-25 Adventure & Eco- 9.90 Pradesh Dharohar Tourism Project Sites Kibhito Frontier Vibrant Arunachal 4 2024-25 Tourism - Gateway to Village 4.96 Pradesh Serenity Programme Ecotourism Panidhing Bird and Amrit 5 Assam 2024-25 9.99 Sanctuary, Sivasagar Dharohar Sites Development of Culture & Tourist Facilities at Heritage 6 Bihar 2024-25 24.29 Sonepur Mela Ground, Saran Development of Ecotourism MayaliBagicha as and Amrit 7 Chhattisgarh 2024-25 9.97 Eco Tourism Dharohar Destination Sites Beautification and Ecotourism Development of and Amrit 8 Goa 2024-25 9.81 Harvalem Waterfall Dharohar at Mayem Village Sites Transformation of Culture & sharmishtha Lake: Heritage 9 Gujarat 2024-25 17.29 Light & culture at VadnagarThe Sacred Ocean Spiritual 10 Gujarat 2024-25 Retreat at Harsiddhi Tourism 24.66 Shore, Porbandar THOL: Ecotourism Transformative and Amrit Tourism' Harmonious Dharohar 11 Gujarat 2024-25 9.96 Sustainability, Sites Optimized Skilling' Leading Technology Tourism Culture & Himachal 12 2024-25 Infrastructure Heritage 24.82 Pradesh Development at Kaza Tourism Vibrant Himachal Infrastructure Village 13 2024-25 4.96 Pradesh Development at Programme Rakchham, Chhitkul Tourism Spiritual Infrastructure Tourism 14 Jharkhand 2024-25 Development at 18.87 Ramrekha Dham, Simdega Thalassery: The Spiritual 15 Kerala 2024-25 25.00 Spiritual Nexus Tourism Varkala- Dakshin Culture & 16 Kerala 2024-25 25.00 Kashi Heritage Advancing Mushkoh Ecotourism as a Sustainable and Amrit Tourism Hub: Dharohar 17 Ladakh 2024-25 9.82 Integrating wildlife Sites Sightings and community progress Madhya Medieval Splendor Spiritual 18 2024-25 25.00 Pradesh 2.0, Orchha Tourism Development of Culture & 19 Maharashtra 2024-25 25.00 Ahmednagar Fort Heritage Development of Culture & Ancient capital of Heritage 20 Manipur 2024-25 24.69 Manipur, LangthabalKonugMawphlang cultural Culture & 21 Meghalaya 2024-25 24.87 & Heritage centre Heritage Nartiang Spiritual & Spiritual 22 Meghalaya 2024-25 24.87 Cultural Centre Tourism Soulful Trails: The Spiritual Impur Heritage Tourism 23 Nagaland 2024-25 24.94 Experience, Impur Village Development of Ecotourism wings over Doyang: and Amrit 24 Nagaland 2024-25 An Eco-Tourism Dharohar 10.00 Haven' Doyang Sites Reservoir Development of Culture & 25 Puducherry 2024-25 22.19 White Town Heritage Cultural and Heritage Culture & Strech at Heritage 26 Punjab 2024-25 25.00 Hussainiwala Border, Ferozepur Heritage street -A Spiritual Symbol of peace and Tourism 27 Punjab 2024-25 Harmony at Sri 24.90 Anandpur Sahib, Rupnagar Echoes of Valor: The Vibrant Gnathang Valley Village 28 Sikkim 2024-25 5.00 Experience," Programme Gnathang Village Kabi Chronicles: A Spiritual journey through Unity Tourism 29 Sikkim 2024-25 24.96 and Heritage, Kabi, Mangan lconic Spiritual 30 Tamil Nadu 2024-25 Transformation of Tourism 20.01 Rameswaram Digital Experience Culture & Centre at Heritage 31 Telangana 2024-25 24.85 Bhuddhavanam in NalgondaDevelopment of Eco- Ecotourism Tourism Project at and Amrit 32 Telangana 2024-25 9.98 Nizam Sagar, Dharohar Kamareddy Sites Development of Culture & Uttar 33 2024-25 Cultural Landscape Heritage 24.98 Pradesh at Mahoba Development of Vibrant 34 Uttarakhand 2024-25 Jadung Festive Village 4.99 Ground', Jadung Programme Development of Spiritual Kainchidham Tourism 35 Uttarakhand 2024-25 17.60 campus, Kainchidham Vibrant 36 Uttarakhand 2024-25 Mana Haat project Village 4.99 Programme Total 648.11 *****